Your own dog has run away – one of the worst scenarios that dog owners can imagine. A moment of inattention, and suddenly, your beloved four-legged friend is gone. Regardless of their training, dogs sometimes disappear, and despite calling out, they don’t return. In the following article, you will learn why dogs run away, what to do if your canine companion has escaped, and what safety precautions you should take beforehand.

Reasons Your Dog Might Run Away

There are various reasons why a dog may run away. Especially with puppies, it often takes just a moment of looking away. Young dogs are naturally curious and love exploring their surroundings, quickly moving out of the owner’s sight.

Some dogs may escape because they’ve seen, heard, or smelled another animal, following their hunting instincts. Alternatively, a dog may have caught the scent of a female in heat. Loud noises or accidents can also startle animals, causing them to run away out of fear.

In many cases, dogs don’t actually run away but may run ahead because they are on a familiar walking route and know the way home.

Dog Running Away – How to React Properly

If your beloved pet has gone missing, you naturally want to take immediate action to find them. Especially if they ran away during a walk, it’s essential to remain calm, even if it’s challenging. If your dog got frightened and escaped due to your unusual behavior, shouting, or panicking might cause them more fear, making them hide.

Since humans can’t catch up with their pets, it’s best to stay exactly where the dog ran away. Often, the animals are not far away and will return on their own after a short time. If this doesn’t happen, contact a familiar person who can assist in the search or wait at the location where your dog disappeared while you look for them.

If your dog has been missing for 1-2 hours and hasn’t returned, consider ending the on-site search. Leave an item of clothing or an object with your scent at the location. If your pet returns, the familiar smell will likely keep them nearby. As dogs tend to follow the scent of their owners, be sure to avoid dangerous locations such as highways, train tracks, and other risky areas during the search to keep your dog safe.

From home, report your missing dog to the local police. However, use the non-emergency number, not the emergency hotline, to keep it available for urgent situations. Inform local animal shelters, veterinarians, animal welfare organizations, and the central registration database. If your pet disappeared in the woods, contact the forester or gamekeeper.

Create missing posters. Use a picture of your dog, provide contact information such as your phone number, and describe the location where you last saw your pet. Distribute the posters within a few kilometers of your apartment or house and several kilometers from where you lost your dog.

Naturally, the mentioned tips may not be suitable for every situation in which a dog may have run away. The suggested behaviors serve as advice. If you’re unsure how to handle your specific case, consult with the police or an animal welfare organization.

Found Your Dog?

When your missing dog is finally sighted, calmness is key. The dog may be in shock and not react as usual. Loud shouting or crying on your part might scare them away again. It’s better to act deliberately calm, kneel down, turn your side to the dog, and gently and quietly lure them.

Preventing Running Away

It’s not always possible to prevent a pet from running away, but you can take several measures to reduce the risk or increase the chances of safely recovering your pet if it happens.

Identify and Register Your Dog:

There are two options for this: your canine companion can be injected with a microchip under the skin. The chip, also known as a transponder, operates using electromagnetic waves. Once activated, the chip transmits a unique number assigned specifically to your dog, which veterinarians or animal welfare organizations can read with corresponding readers. Alternatively, a vet can tattoo an individual number on the dog’s thigh or ear under anesthesia.

By the way, if you plan to travel with your dog outside of the US, the chip is mandatory.

After identifying your pet, register them in a database to provide your contact information. The combination of identification and registration allows for later identification of the dog.

Create a Collar with Contact Information:

In addition to identification, there are collars on which you can engrave not only your dog’s name but also a phone number or address. If someone finds your dog, they can directly contact you, and you can eagerly await or pick up your four-legged friend. The disadvantage is that the dog may lose the collar, or they may not wear it for some reason on the day of disappearance.

Train Your Dog Not to “Run Away”:

Practice with your dog so that they stay in place when they no longer see their owner. This way, you may find them at the location where you last saw them in case of loss. A well-functioning recall is also very helpful: even in stressful situations, you can call your dog and make them “freeze” or come back to you immediately. While this prevents escape in many cases, it doesn’t guarantee success in every situation. Especially in situations of shock or hunting instinct, dogs often follow their instincts, regardless of what they’ve been taught by their owner.

Schedule a Check-Up with the Vet

Your dog has run away, and you’ve found them again? As a precaution, have them checked by the vet. After all, you never know what your dog experienced during their absence and where they roamed. There could be unnoticed injuries or a shock. Fortunately, most four-legged friends return home unharmed.